Capital Projects

The City is involved in a number of active capital projects around Tacoma. Capital projects include adding or improving motorized and non-motorized transportation infrastructure, stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure, City facilities, and other key projects. This list highlights some of the capital projects currently under way.

56th Street South and Cirque Drive Corridor Improvements

This is a joint project between City of University Place and City of Tacoma with University Place being the lead agency for the project. Phase 1 of this project includes improvements to Tacoma between Washington Street and Orchard Street and continues into University Place on Cirque Drive until 67th Avenue. Phase 2 in Tacoma has funding for design only at this time and will continue improvements along South 56th Street to Tacoma Mall Boulevard.

Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Floodwall

The Central Wastewater Treatment Plant features one of the most technologically advanced treatment processes in the country. It serves Tacoma and about 20,000 customers in Fife, Fircrest and unincorporated Pierce County.

East 25th Street

This project provides complete off-site improvements along East 25th Street around G Street. The work includes approximately 600 linear feet of roadway along E. 25th Street west of G. Street and including sidewalk, parking, driveways, landscaping, curb and gutter, associated restoration and street amenities, and approximately 125 linear feet storm drainage upgrades east of G street.

First Creek Middle School Safe Routes to School

The project will improve safety for students by installing a HAWK signal on Portland Avenue. Infrastructure improvements will be enhanced by providing education to students, staff, and parents through incentives and encouragement, as well as increased enforcement by local law enforcement.

Lincoln District Streetscape

The Lincoln District Streetscape is the cornerstone of the Lincoln Revitalization Project. Key features of the streetscape include neighborhood entryway, roadway, sidewalk and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. These upgrades are happening along the stretch of South 38th Street, from South J Street to South Fawcett Avenue, which serves as the primary corridor of the Lincoln Business District and Mixed Use Center. This project seeks to enhance pedestrian access, traffic calming measures and landscaping elements. There is also a public art component to provide distinctive gateway attractions on both sides of the improved streetscape.

Links to Opportunity

Links to Opportunity Project is a two-part effort to improve social and economic opportunity. The project includes streetscape design in coordination with the Tacoma LINK Light Rail Expansion corridor. The design will primarily include curb to building face, including sidewalks and amenities.

Lister Elementary

Jefferson and Hood Street Surface Water Interceptor

The City of Tacoma Environmental Services Department is undertaking improvements to provide additional surface water capacity to the downtown core intended to help address flooding in the lower downtown area and provide additional capacity for growth.

North 21st Street

The North 21st Street project consists of streetscape improvements on North 21st Street between North Adams and North Pearl Streets in conjunction with Tacoma Power’s replacement of the transmission towers along this corridor. The City is working with Tacoma Power to site the new transmission towers to allow future reconfiguration of the North 21st Street corridor. Tacoma Power and the City are also meeting with neighborhood councils, business districts, and the public to present the Tacoma Power project and gather public input on the future configuration of North 21st Street.

Pedestrian Accessibility Improvements

This project will replace curb ramps and driveways between E. McKinley Avenue and S. Pacific Avenue along S. 38th Street, curb ramps in various locations within the City of Tacoma ROW to current ADA and PROWAG standards, and install bus pads at the same location as some of the curb ramps. This project will also include the installation and replacement of some permanent channelization.

Prairie Line Trail - Phase 2

This project will complete an important link in Tacoma’s non-motorized system, connecting the waterfront to downtown with multiple city and regional trails. Traversing the steep hills of Tacoma is a challenge – the gentle grade of this former rail corridor provides an easier walking and cycling alternative. Construction of this multi-use path includes wayfinding, lighting, stormwater improvements, landscaping, public art, and amenities. The second phase of the project is located along the former BNSF rail line running between South 21st Street and South 25th Street.

Puyallup River Bridge

The Puyallup River Bridge project will replace the bridge sections required to span the BNSF and Union Pacific Main Lines through Tacoma. The project will have a right of way component and design review by both railroads and the State. The Puyallup River Bridge is on an arterial street consisting of 4 travel lanes with three currently crossing over the bridge. Construction of the bridge will impact traffic patterns in the area forcing traffic onto I-5 and the Lincoln Avenue Bridge.

Puyallup Avenue Corridor Conceptual Design

Beginning in August 2016, the
City will undertake a conceptual design for corridor improvements along
Puyallup Avenue from Portland Avenue to S. C Street (connection to Prairie Line
Trail). The study will address multi-modal uses and complete street
concepts including, but not limited to, landscaping, lighting, sidewalks,
crosswalks, bicycle facilities, and other amenities. As part of the
design process, a traffic study will be conducted addressing existing,
constructed, and 20-year projected conditions to accommodate current and future
growth. There will be an extensive outreach component to the project to
address stakeholder needs including those of the residents, businesses,
transit, and freight communities. Work shall be consistent with the Final
South Downtown Subarea Plan and the City’s Comprehensive Plan, including the
Transportation Master Plan. The project is expected to continue into
early 2017. Project deliverables will be used to apply for additional
design and construction funding.

Rail Crossing Improvements

This project will evaluate existing conditions, conduct public outreach, and develop alternatives for improving rail crossing conditions at the five rail crossing locations below:

Old Town: McCarver Street and Ruston Way
Dome District: East D Street between East 25th and East 26th Streets
Dome District: East C Street between East 25th and East 26th Streets
West End: 6th Avenue and Titlow Beach
West End: Narrows Marina and S 19th Street

Issues to be analyzed including safety, traffic operations, non-motorized mobility, noise, and economic or other quality of life issues. Incorporating community feedback, the project will develop a framework and ranking methodology through which the potential crossing improvements can be evaluated.

South 19th Street (Mullen to Union)

The project extends from Union to Mullen along South 19th Street and consists of grinding the outer lane on each side of the street, overlaying the roadway curb to curb with HMA, constructing ADA compliant ramps, upgrading the traffic signal by installing video detection, and installing a smarter push button that talks and vibrates when activated for crossing a signalized intersection.

Schuster Parkway Promenade

This project will include transforming the existing sidewalk adjacent to Schuster Parkway into a shared-use promenade extending from S. 4th Street to N. 30th Street and continuing on to McCarver Street.

Stevens-Tyler-66th Bike Lanes - Phase 1 and 2

This project will link existing bikeways north/south across Tacoma by closing the gap on the Tyler/Stevens bikeway and will add an east/west connection along South 66th Streetbetween Tyler and the WaterFlume Line Trail (Clement).

Taylor Way Rehabilitation

The project will improve the
Taylor Way corridor from the Fife/Tacoma border (approximately 300 feet east of
SR 509) to the intersection at E. 11th St. and Alexander Avenue. Improvements
include reconstructing the roadway surface to heavy haul standards (Fife to E.
11th St.), widening the SR 509/Taylor Way intersection to include dedicated
thru and turn lanes, removing or upgrading existing railroad crossings,
upgrading traffic and pedestrian signals, installation of communication fiber,
new street lighting, sidewalks, upgrading non-compliant curb ramps,
rechannelization of E. 11th St./Alexander Ave., and other intelligent
transportation system (ITS) improvements. The design phase is fully
funded and is expected to begin in early 2018, construction, however, is only
partially funded at this time. The City will continue to pursue grants to
complete this work.

Water Flume Line Trail - Phase 3

Phase 3 is the final remaining phase of the Water Flume Line Trail that needs to be constructed. Phases 1, 2, and 4 are complete and open to the public. Phase 3 is located along South Tacoma Way between Pine and Sprague Avenue. Community engagement helped determine a design layout to match Phase 4, which is also along South Tacoma Way between M Street and C Street, construction was completed in 2017 of this segment. The City is actively searching for construction funds for this final phase of the trail.